Posted on 07/02/2010 11:30:15 AM PDT by Ready4Freddy
That’s looking less likely as they progress...
Sean saying that contador should have held up when andy’s chain fooked up
I know. Going to be close on keeping the yellow jersey. Although kind of moot as a few seconds won’t matter at all in the TT.
Seems like a marked difference from when Ullrich and others waited on Lance when he crashed in 2003.
Contador has shown over and over through the years what type of person he is, don't know why Sean would expect him to "gentleman" up now.
Just to continue my thought above: That is said in regards to tour and cycling 'tradition' -- which I will be the first to admit I am completely oblivious about. I ride a stationary bike and that is about it for this old fart.
it took me a long time to understand the whole team, domestique, etc etc concepts. I also now understand the 'gentleman's agreement' part like when Ullrich and company stopped to allow Lance to catch up in the past... but I also have to say my personal feeling, from someone extremely competitive is : Fall, broken chain, puncture -- that's blood in the water baby!!! Time to attack and put the threat away!
So, I understand where Sean and others are coming from, and I understand the Tour/Cycling thing is to allow your competitor to catch back up; but my gut instinct would be "he's down? Good! Let's put some major hurt into him now!"
Bl-st, d-mned and h-ll. Contador’s move payed off. I hope no one waits for Alberto if he has an accident during the next stages.
Contador by 8 seconds in the GC.
I agree to an extent. However, as you said there are unspoken rules to the sport. And it seems very important that the best man win due to ability and not the bad luck of his competition. A seemingly similar “written” rule would be not blocking the competition in a bunch sprint to the line.
Dabodayuz make good points in re: Contador.
Tomorrow could be a huge day for someone. While the finish is a long 35+ KM downhill and flat, the stage starts out with a punishing Cat 1, followed by another Cat 1 and two HC’s.
I could see someone attacking hard right out of the gate tomorrow and opening an advantage.
Just my thoughts, but tomorrow sets up perfectly for someone with ‘balls’ to have a long solo ride out front.
of course with Tourmelet looming in Stage 17, they mey back off and rest the legs too.
Just a thought, Lance has tweeted a few times this past week that he is still looking for a stage win and has been purposely ‘Saving his legs”... I wonder if we could see him try to ‘Ride off into the sunset” tomorrow?
Quite the battle for the 3rd podium position, too
Overall after Stage 15:
1. CONTADOR Alberto 1 ASTANA 72h 50’ 42”
2. SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM SAXO BANK 72h 50’ 50” + 00’ 08”
3. SANCHEZ Samuel 181 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 72h 52’ 42” + 02’ 00”
4. MENCHOV Denis 191 RABOBANK 72h 52’ 55” + 02’ 13”
5. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 101 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 72h 54’ 21” + 03’ 39”
6. GESINK Robert 195 RABOBANK 72h 55’ 43” + 05’ 01”
7. LEIPHEIMER Levi 25 TEAM RADIOSHACK 72h 56’ 07” + 05’ 25”
8. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 77 KATUSHA TEAM 72h 56’ 27” + 05’ 45”
9. VINOKOUROV Alexandre 9 ASTANA 72h 57’ 54” + 07’ 12”
10. HESJEDAL Ryder 54 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 72h 58’ 33” + 07’ 51”
11. KREUZIGER Roman 44 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 72h 58’ 40” + 07’ 58”
12. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 161 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 72h 59’ 01” + 08’ 19”
13. SASTRE Carlos 91 CERVELO TEST TEAM 72h 59’ 44” + 09’ 02”
14. BASSO Ivan 41 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 72h 59’ 57” + 09’ 15”
15. KLÖDEN Andréas 24 TEAM RADIOSHACK 73h 01’ 56” + 11’ 14”
16. LÖVKVIST Thomas 37 SKY PRO CYCLING 73h 02’ 51” + 12’ 09”
17. ROCHE Nicolas 81 AG2R LA MONDIALE 73h 03’ 16” + 12’ 34”
18. DE WEERT Kevin 133 QUICK STEP 73h 04’ 49” + 14’ 07”
19. GADRET John 85 AG2R LA MONDIALE 73h 05’ 06” + 14’ 24”
20. PLAZA MOLINA Ruben 168 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 73h 05’ 29” + 14’ 47”
Interesting comment about Lance, commish.
Tourmelet is on the menu for Stage 16, as well. They climb it twice this year from different routes, of course.
I’m waiting to see what Lance and Andy have to say about what happened today.
So far everyone seems to have a pretty negative impression of AC’s move.
I like this statement, “Contador just gained a great chance to win, but he lost the chance to win greatly.”
wow, I didn’t even notice they climbed Tourmelet in 16 from the other direction. That is cool.
Lance has been saying he wants to go for a stage win to finish his career, so I would imagine it will either be an attempt at a long solo ride tomorrow, or he will lay back again and attack Tourmelet in 17. It has to be one or the other, he is not a sprinter and his TT skills are gone.
The only other option would be talking to everyone and being allowed to pull away in Paris. that would be a cool finish, but it would also be more a “let Lance have the moment instead of a true stage win”
So, it comes down to how Lance wants to try and go out:
1. A long solo ride (and hope they let him go)
2. Attempt one last Mountain Top ride to Glory on Tourmelet
3. Get an ‘honorary’ stage win in Paris.
Contador has never cared about anyone but himself. It’s why I dislike him so much. I hope his bad karma catches up to him before Paris.
i have never been a Contador far either.. but can respect his skill
Yeah, well, some people respect Terrell Owens’ skill, too...
” Andy and Contador riding on the same team makes no sense. Just like last year when Lance and Contador bristled at each other’s riding, Schleck is his team’s leader- he’s not going to ride for Contador (nor vice versa).”
And certainly not after today.................
I would love to see Lance, Levi and some of the RS climbers get with Schleck and say “You need us to help you on the next few climbs, just say the word and we are there. let’s bury the Spanish B**tard”
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